1
as in to bewilder
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
the similar-sounding words "censure" and "censor" often confuse people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to complicate
to make (something) unclear to the understanding
stop confusing the issue with irrelevant facts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to mistake
to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related
a lot of people confuse popular fame with enduring achievement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to embarrass
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress
she was confused by the shocking bluntness of his marriage proposal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to disrupt
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
vandals had hopelessly confused the papers in the office files
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of confuse
Often confused with henbit—another spring-flowering, mat-forming weed—chickweed has round stems and white flowers, while henbit has square stems and purple flowers.
—
Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 May 2025
Also, some dwarf galaxies appear to contain no dark matter, and some have far fewer stars than expected, even below the theoretical lower limit, further confusing the issue.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 8 May 2025
The judge, confused by the video, asked Dewald if the person on screen was his attorney.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 7 May 2025
And when the series takes an occasional serious turn, you'll just be confused.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 May 2025
Also, some dwarf galaxies appear to contain no dark matter, and some have far fewer stars than expected, even below the theoretical lower limit, further confusing the issue.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 8 May 2025
The judge, confused by the video, asked Dewald if the person on screen was his attorney.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 7 May 2025
And when the series takes an occasional serious turn, you'll just be confused.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confuse
Verb
-
These reactions are just the tip of the iceberg, as the football world continues to be bewildered at Sanders being available heading into the fourth round on Saturday.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2025
-
Across the street, her husband Steve, who nursed Molly through her first fight with breast cancer a few years earlier, sits bewildered in the office of their couples therapist.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Start connecting with your ideal clients today Getting calls with your dream customers isn't complicated.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
-
While their relationship is complicated, to say the least, Serena doesn't want to see June executed.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
20 May 2025
Verb
-
The game often involves ski masks and toy guns, which can be mistaken for real threats by bystanders or law enforcement.—
Jazmin Towe,
Parents,
9 May 2025
-
This balanced view should not be mistaken for leniency—there is no denying that the industry must step up its actions to reduce emissions.—
Simi Thambi,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
Verb
-
Johnson’s predecessor, Larry Robinson, resigned last year amid fallout from a fake $237 million donation scandal that embarrassed the school on the national stage.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
17 May 2025
-
What’s made the 18th so fun this week is its ability — even for just a second — to embarrass the best golfers on the planet.—
Jordan Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
17 May 2025
Verb
-
Indeed, on Thursday in Basel, a small group of protesters blew whistles and waved flags to disrupt one of Raphael’s public rehearsals.—
Alex Marshall,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
-
In a particularly affecting scene, Laura pleads with a social worker who disrupts the sinister plot she’s been crafting.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
16 May 2025
Verb
-
Multiple current and former FDA officials said they were perplexed by Makary's claim, given the push for longer trips in the past had been an efficiency measure intended to result in the agency being able to complete more inspections.—
Paula Cohen,
CBS News,
6 May 2025
-
Archaeologists were perplexed by a strange pair of discs found in Oman – only to discover these items were actually a single 4,000-year-old instrument.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The 20-episode series aims to blur the line between reality and imagination, mixing comedy and drama with a nostalgic nod to the vibrant ’90s era that shaped him.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
15 May 2025
-
Further blurring the picture: the Trump administration announced a 90-day pause on the highest import fees for dozens of countries in early April and a similar truce with China on Monday that allows the two sides negotiate further.—
Paul Davidson,
USA Today,
14 May 2025
Verb
-
In any other circumstance, I would have been flustered, embarrassed, and ready to drag her out of there and straight into a time-out.—
Staff Author,
Parents,
5 May 2025
-
Midway through Donald Trump‘s 100-day interview with ABC’s Terry Moran, the president got flustered.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confuse. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share